carbon wrap barrel question

In a nutshell, carbon fiber wrapped barrels are mostly about aesthetics and very little else. That's not to say they're a bad barrel, but there just is very little, if anything, better about them than a equal quality all steel barrel.

It's been debunked multiple times that they do not cool any faster than a all steel barrel, regardless of the resin used or the winding process. Recently there was, yet another, independent test done that debunked their claim to being stiffer, so when you boil all the marketing BS off, what you're left with is aesthetics and "cool factor". Some people, myself included, like how they look and I'd be lying if I didn't admit I think they look pretty cool. I recently put a 6.5CM Proof CF barrel on my Seekins SP10, but it wasn't because I thought it was a better barrel than any number of custom all steel barrels I could have used and would have cost me much less, no it was strictly because I liked how it looked and I think if most people who purchase CF wrapped barrels were completely honest, they'd admit the same. Either that, or they got swept up in the marketing and actually believe there is something truly better about them. As for lightness, the biggest place they lighten things, is in your wallet.

 

I doubt that debunking means anything.

Carbon barrels are not as stiff as a steel barrel with the same profile but they are stiffer than a steel barrel of the same length and weight.

The difference in stiffness to weight makes the amplitude of barrel whip less and the composite construction also damps the motion unlike a steel barrel that rings like a tuning fork.

There are enough Proof barrels with high round counts that aren't totally cooked that I believe they disapate heat well enough too.

 

All i know is they dont get hot on the outside on long strings. They cant dissipate heat fast enough for me to not feel it with my finger as im shooting. I just go by what i see. Maybe ill take a thermocouple with me if i ever shoot any of mine in a long string again. They are great for hunting and being cool. I do believe the independent tests saying they hold heat because thats what i see first hand owning and building them

 

Carbon wrapped barrels are all about reducing weight , that’s about it.

 

But they are only lighter when compared to an equal diameter all steel barrel. When compared to a #3 or #4 contour barrel, which is as stiff or stiffer than a CF wrapped barrel, the CF wrapped barrels weigh the same or are a touch heavier.

 

Based on chambering many CF barrels I can tell you they are not as stiff as you think. I do all my work on a Haas TL-1. I always measure the thread pitch diameter. The CF always measures larger than an all steel barrel. More work piece deflection when threading. They do look cool and they shoot fine but give me a light stock to work with, an all steel barrel and I can build you a nice 6 1/2-7 lb. rifle. I did the full Monty treatment on one rifle. Lightened Rem 700, feather weight MPI stock, #2 fluted barrel. 6.5-06 Imp. It weighed just over 5 lbs. bare.
The larger the caliber the larger the CF barrel has to be to shoot accurately.
As always YMMV

 

Wow, a fluted #2, will many barrel companies flute a #2 contour? Even in a 6.5 bore, a fluted #2 can't have much meat left between the bore and the flutes. I'm guess those are probably a shallower flute profile than what they normally use.

 

I fluted it myself. I think I took 2 ozs. out of it. Purely cosmetic. Sexier than a CF barrel though. I've thought about an octagon #3

 

Anyone really done a stiffness test on all contours of barrels and cf wrapped barrels? If so post it here I want to read it.

 

I held them all by the shank in the lathe chuck and hung a weight at the same point on each of them. I also did a #4 it went .028". What I found was the cf barrels are about as stiff as a steel barrel of equal weight, they also need a wider forend. So in reality I can build a lighter rifle with a steel barrel if we are talking equal barrel stiffness. And do not shoot them fast. I replace cf barrels at much lower round counts than others because the owner doesnt think they are hot judging by how they feel on the outside, but they are plenty hot on the inside. Im not knocking them, if you want a light rifle but also want to run a tactical style stock like an A3, the cf barrels are the only way to do it. And the proof barrels do shoot quite well. But theres a lot of mis information out there.

 

How bout carbon fiber barrel AND a carbon fiber stock? Then chamber it in 33nosler topping the scale at 6lbs?

 

Very good! Good to see numbers like that.

While CF tends to be 3-5X stiffer than steel (pound for pound), apparently there's not enough of it wrapped around the steel core of the CF barrels to equal or exceed the stiffness of a steel only barrel. But there's enough of it for keeping the heat from conducting out to the outside surface where it can be felt (unless one touches the steel part of the core ).

 

https://lauraburgess.com/proof-research-awarded-contract-future-weapon-systems-development/

Would you ever think Proof Research is scamming the DOD and the tax payers?

www.innovativecomposite.com/what-is-carbon-fiber/

https://www.christinedemerchant.com/carbon_characteristics_heat_conductivity.html

 

That's a pretty rifle!

 

I was wondering the same thing. When a fellow shooting next to me at the range made a comment that his carbon fiber barrel wasn't even hot after a 10 shot string. I told him that the heats gotta go some where or it gets contained under that rapped fiber.

 

Possibly the heat was conducted along the length of the helically wrapped carbon fibers.

 

My Proof barrels certainly get hot. In fact, they heat up faster than steel. Not all carbon barrels are the same.

 

I would guess you would expect similar performance after firing a volley in warmer temps. If your barrel "wanders" in warmer weather - it most probably will in cold weather. If you have a carbon wrapped barrel that doesn't wander after four or five shots - you already have luck on your side. I tested a few proof barrels and while I think they'd be great for mountain big game hunting, just trying to get some loads worked up without the groups opening each time the barrels started to warm was frustration I have never experienced with a solid steel barrel from any manufacturer.

 

Someone please post when a CF barrel sets any new record - accuracy, not weight...;-)

 

This may not be a record but would indicate superior performance.

https://proofresearch.com/norm-crawford-wins-prestigious-wimbledon-cup-second-year-row/